Table and seat structure



April 1946-- J. A. PAQUETTVE 2,399,378

TABLE AND SEAT STRUCTURE Filed May 31, 1943 INVENTOR. Joseph A. lzgueffe H [5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE TABLE AND snA'r STRUCTURE Joseph A. Paduette, San Mateo, Calif. Application May 31, 1943, Serial No. 489,142

6 Claims. (01. 155424) My invention relates to a table with attached seats; and one of the objects of the invention is the provision of a combined structure in which the seats are accessible without the need for stepping over parts, and which is stable even though but one side is occupied. Another object is the provision of a structure of the character described which is both light in weight and amply strong; and which can be readily knocked down for shipment or storage in a compact package, and as readily set up for use.

My invention possesses other objects and' features of value, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the invention. It is to be. understood that I do not limit myself tothe showing made by the said description and the drawing, as I may adopt variant forms of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

.structure of my invention comprises a table top with means for supporting it at the proper height of about 30 inches from the ground. A beam extending across, but below the top, is pendantly supported from the top by suspender pieces; and

a seat is arrangedoneach end of the beam in convenient position relative to the table top. The supporting means preferably comprise legs, the lower ends of which extend outwardly on each sidefar enough to lie in a vertical plane parallel to the edge of the table and passing through the seats on that side. Suitable struts for bracing the structure longitudinally and transversely are included. The parts are demountably connected for rapid knock-down and assembly; and where practicable, parts are so arranged that subassemblies of parts may be folded together to facilitate storage and handling.

In detail, my invention comprises a table top comprising the top panel 6 and the apron pieces 1 which form a stiff frame on all four sides and into which the panel is rabbeted. The top panel may be thin ply-board but preferably is ply-board provided with a hard, non-absorbent top sheet of compacted fiber. Cross pieces 8 extending between and secured to the long apron pieces also form part of the table top, tying it into a rigid, stable structure. They also provide additional support for the relatively thin top panel. For the table described there are six of these cross pieces spaced as shown in Figure 2. Forconvenience in this description a table for serving meals to 12 persons will be considered. Such a table may be 3-0 inches wide and 12 feet long, and six seats are arranged on each long side;

Extending downward at the ends of the cross pieces and disposed on opposite sides thereon, "are suspenders 9, each of which is fixed to the apronby a bolt l l; A timber ring connector I2 is preferably'interposed between the apron and suspender on the bolt II to add to th rigidity and strength of thelconnection. Connecting the lower ends of each transverse pair of the suspenders and extending outwardly 'beyond the edges of the table top on both sides is a beam IS. A rigid connection between beam and suspender is secured by a bolt I! and timber. ring connector l8; and it' is to be noted that the suspenders lie on opposite sides of the beam. On each end of the beam, a seat board 2| is fixed by bolts 22, and braced by corner blocks 23. The length of the suspenders and the proportion of parts is such preferably as to place the seat about eighteen inches from the floor and at a. convenient distance horizontally from the apron. Longitudinally extending struts 24, though not strictly necessary, are preferably arranged between the cross pieces 8 and the end apron pieces, abutting against the top panel midway between its long sides. The central strut 24a above, and strut 26 below, extending between the central pair of beams iii; are bolted Ito the diagonal struts -2l, disposed between the center pair of beams and central pair of cross pieces. These members carry the stresses tending to wrack the structure lengthwise. Diagonal struts 28 are also bolted to cross pieces 8 and beams 16 toibrace the structurecrosswise. Preferably one is placed at each end and on the two middle beams. A long tie piece or strut 29 ties all the beams together.

Means are provided for supporting the table top from the floor. For th structure described and shown, two pairs of legs 3| are sufiicient. Each pair is disposed as an inverted V, adjacent the'second beam from each end of the table. The vertex or upper ends of each pair are bolted to the adjacent cross piece 8, and the lower ends are extended so that each lies vertically below the associated seat; that is, in a vertical plane parallel to the table edge and passing through the seats on that side. This arrangement makes a perfectly stable structure even though the six seats on only one side are occupied, since the center of gravity of the whole, including occupants of seats, is between the points of support.

It is convenient to arrange the legs of each pair to pass through the lower corners of the adjacent four-sided frame formed by cross piece, suspenders and beam; and in the frames involved I connect each leg to the frame corner by the bolt l1, passing through all three of the members, with timber ring connectors preferably disposed between the contiguous faces.

It is apparent from the above that an exceedingly light and strong table and seat structure results, the seats literally supported from the apron pieces forming part of the table top, which in turn is carried on the legs. This'construction lends itself to the stacking and moving about which is required in mess halls where many men are fed. It will also be noted that each seat and its support leaves nothing to be stepped over, but is readily straddled without particular, attention, which is important to one carrying a tray of food.

It will also be observed that because of the bolted construction, the parts may be readily demounted for storage or shipment and quickly reassembled by anyone without special skill or experience. One such knock-down procedure contemplates disassembly of the legs and braces; and the removal of bolts H to free the suspenders from the top structure. Then with the nuts back,,

On the bolts H, the suspenders may be turned down to lie along opposite sides of the beam to which they are connected, so that the total thickness of this subassembly of beam, two seats and two suspenders is only the depth of the beam plus; the thickness of the seat board. Six such sub-' assemblies together with braces, legs and hardware for one complete structure may be distributed over the underside of the table top subassembly; and the whole enclosed in a crate or.

case, the length and width of the table top, and a thickness or height less than twice the width of the apron pieces I. These dimensions measure the space required for storage or a shipping ease.

I claim:

1. A table and seat structure comprising a table top, legs supporting the table top, a plurality of spaced beams extending transversely of and below the table top, a seat arranged at each end of each beam, each seat being independent of the other seats and suspenders supporting the beams from the table top independently of the legs.

2. A table and, seat structure comprising a table top, a plurality of spaced beams extending transversely of and below the table top, a seat arrangedat each end of eachbeam, each seat being independent of the other seats, suspenderssupporting the beams from the table top, and legs fixed to the table top and to certain of the beams and having their lower ends on each side ofv the table 1 seats, and strut means interposed between the in a vertical plane parallel to the edge of the table top and passing through the overlying seats carried by beams to which the legs are fixed.

3. A table and seat structure comprising a table top, a plurality of spaced beam extending transversel of and below the table top, a seat arranged at each end of each beam independently of the other seats, suspenders supporting each beam from the table top, and a plurality of pairs of legs fixed to the table top and having their lower ends on each side of the table in a vertical plane parallel to the edge of the table top and passing through the overlying seats, each of said legs being fixed to a selected suspender and beam at their juncture.

4. A table and seat structure comprising a table top, a plurality of spaced beams extending transversely of and below the table top, a seat arranged at each end of each beam, each seat being independent of the other seats, suspenders supporting the beams from the table top, legs fixed to the table top and to certain of the beams and having their lower ends on each side'of the table in a vertical plane parallel to the edge of the table top and passing through the overlying seats, and strut'means interposed between' the legs bracing the top, suspenders and the beams interposed'between the legs against wracking in all directions. I

5. A table and seat structure comprising a table top, a plurality of spaced beams extending transversely of and below the table top; a seat arranged at each end of each beam, each seat being independent of the other seats, suspenders supporting the beams from the table top, legs fixed to the table top and to certain of the beams and having their lower ends on each side of the table in a vertical plane parallel to the ed e of the table top and passing through the overlying legs longitudinally and transversely of the table top and bracing the top, suspenders and beams interposed between the legs against wracking.

6. A table and seat structure comprising a plurality of spaced substantiall vertical four-sided frames having substantially horizontal upper and lower members, each lower member extending on both sides beyond the frame, a seat disposed on each outwardly extending portion of each lower member independently of the seats upon the outwardly extending portions of the other lower members, substantially horizontal I apron pieces connecting the upper portions of the ioursided frames on opposite sides of the structure, a top panel disposed on the apron pieces and upper members, and a pair of legs fixed to each of a plurality of frames with their lower ends terminating under the associated seats.

JOSEPH A. PAQUETTE. 

